In 1954 Mr Cahill travelled to Europe for a tennis tour, and decided after the games were done to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima.

‘‘2017 marks the centenary of the Apparitions of Our Lady to the three children in Fatima,’’ he said.

‘‘The messages of Our Lady to the children, particularly the call to pray the Rosary, interceding for world peace, has been embraced by Catholics in the early part of the twentieth century.’’

On May 13, 2013, the bishop of Portugal consecrated Pope Francis’ pontificate to Our Lady at Fatima, in response to his request. Later that year, he celebrated the Marian Day in the Year of Faith in St Peter’s Square, in front of the statue of Our Lady that had been brought from Fatima.

By his devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Francis has shown the Church that the Fatima message remains just as relevant as ever.

The Nagambie pilgrims joined with a million Rosaries to pray in response to the request of the Mother of God, who asked for conversion, prayer and penance.